Diabetes and Oral Health – A Two-Way Street

Diabetic living and dental care

How does diabetes affect the teeth and gums?

Nearly 30 million Americans have diabetes. While many are aware of the condition’s associated risks such as stroke, eye disease and kidney disease, they may be less informed about the important connection between diabetes and oral health.

In fact, diabetes and oral health can go hand-in-hand: People with poorly controlled diabetes are more likely to develop oral health complications like gum disease, which in turn can contribute to the progression of diabetes. Ultimately, it’s especially important for those with diabetes and signs of diabetes to keep their mouth, teeth and gums as healthy as possible.1

How does diabetes affect dental health?

People with diabetes are generally more prone to bacterial infections like gum disease.1 Experts believe that diabetes can also reduce saliva production, another risk factor of gum disease.4

While everyone has some level of bacteria in the mouth, people with poorly controlled diabetes may experience more rapid bacteria growth due to high blood glucose (sugar). Glucose is present in saliva and bad bacteria in the mouth feeds off of it.4 When bacteria combine with food particles and other substances, it can form plaque, one of the main causes of gum disease.3

How does gum disease impact diabetes health risks?

Since diabetes decreases the body’s ability to fight and resist infection, it can cause gum disease to be more severe and take longer to heal. If left untreated, early gum disease (gingivitis) can progress into a serious gum infection called periodontitis. As the disease worsens, it can destroy the tissues and bone that hold the teeth in place, eventually causing tooth loss.3

Periodontitis may impact the body’s ability to control blood glucose (sugar) levels, thus making diabetes management more difficult to control.1

Addressing gum disease and diabetes in dentistry

If you have diabetes, there are things you can do to help prevent or manage gum disease.

Avoid sweets and other empty-calorie snacks, which aren’t good for oral health or diabetes. Keep in mind that many beverages contain added sugar, and even sugar-free varieties may be high in acid – another substance that can harm teeth and gums.